Good afternoon.

I have some models of three axis KPEV coach that have glasses behind the roof opening (Roco)
and other (Fleischmann) that do not have (see yellow arrows).



Giving that, I suppose, these opening was intended for ventilation I wonder if glass reproduction
is a mistake or not.

In the specific model in the above picture, ventilation is in charge to specific devices (Postdam
or Grove or, after 1913/14, Wendler Sauger), present in spare part bag, to plug in the small square
holes between the small windows.

So, in this case, it seems that glasses must be maintained.

Anyone can suggest me if I have to maintain glass reproduction or must I remove?

Thanks in advance.

Massimo.

These are not for ventilation, but for lightning as they are windows.
In german they are called Oberlichter or light from above.
They were usually removed in the 1950 due to maintenance.

Thomas

Dear Massimo,

Welcome to this forum

As far as I know, the special construction on the roof of prussian coaches was for better lighting of the compartments and not for ventilation. The construction is called in German "Oberlichtaufbau" ("skylight structure" in english?). The original coaches certainly had glazing in the places you meant. The Roco model is simply better than the Fleischmann model. Even better is the model from Brawa, where the parts of the roof between the glaces in the skylight structure are painted in the color of the coach, as it is true to the original.

Kind regards, Sebastian

In the late 19th century and early 20th century this construction principle was used by many types of coaches, e.g. Pullman cars, trams or for many Prussian coaches, like the compartment coaches or the D-Zug cars.
Unfortunately there is nothing about using this construction principle for railway cars in the English Wikipedia page. Only in the German version these are mentioned: https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laternendach
The German term for this construction principle is "Laternendach" with the windows called "Oberlichter" as mentioned in previous comments.
The windows had mainly the reason for additional lighting and the kerosene lamps in the cars were placed in this part of the roof.
However, there were some cars using such windows for ventilation:

Post 3-a/10; 0 3223 Hmb; Roco 44509

or just other openings for ventilation:

Post -b/9,7; 512 Stg; Brawa 2123

Here is a thread discussing the compartment coaches in Germany:
RE: Sammelthread Abteilwagen der Länderbahnen und DRG

Hi All

In the UK, it's a clerestory roof, primarily intended to provide better lighting.

Besides the Prussian State Railways who equipped each coach with clerestory roofs between approx. 1880 and its merger into the German State Railways in 1920, other Railways had clerestory roofs occasionally.

In the UK, in particular the Great Western and the Great Northern Railways had clerestory roof compartment coaches.

Cheers,
Mark

Thank you all for your reply.

Avoiding to open another thread I place here some additional questions.

Looking at the below picture,



1) Which is the function of the five "caps" on the roof (red arrow)?
Maybe substitution of the lighting chemneys in the electrical enlighted coaches?

2) Which is the function of the device indicated with orange arrow?
Maybe a different aerator for toilette?

3) Before electrical enlighting, which system was in use (acetylen gas, kerosene)?

Thanks you in advance.

Massimo

Hello Massimo,

the caps on the roof (red arrow) are vents for the gas lighting. The tank underneath the wagon is the corresponding associated gas tank.
The parts attached to the side of the row of windows on the roof (orange arrow) are the Wendler ventilators you already mentioned.

Regards
Michael

Hi Michael.

These "caps" on the top of the roof seem different from the bell shaped devices I usually know as enlighter chemneys.

I thought that they was simple metallic plug to fill the hole previously use by chemney, when electric enlighting took place of gas or kerosene version.

Regards Wendler vents, yes, I see six of them on the clerestory side but the one on the toilette is a differen device.

Massimo.

Hello Massimo,

I must correct myself, the parts are lamp sockets, not vents. Normally, the corresponding gas pipes also run through the roof. As far as I know, when the gas lighting was replaced by electric lighting, the roof was simply smoothly closed. In my opinion, the gas tank under the vehicle also speaks against electric lighting. The unconventional shape of the lamp holders may also be an ÖBB modification or a simplification on the model; similar shapes, but with a kind of cap on the top, have also been implemented by Brawa, among others.

Regards
Michael

The coach may be gas-lit or Roco may have taken the epoch II prototype with gas lighting and simply transferred it into epoch IIIa ÖBB...

AFAIK, the additional parts of the Roco coaches also provide simple round, flat-topped parts to be mounted instead of the gas chimneys. When mounting these, the gas tank under the coach consequently needs to be replaced by accumulators.

Yes Mark,

I purchased two spare parts bags just for this purpose.

The are seven top flat caps exactly as the ones showed on the roof of the ÖBB coach.

Before seeing that model, I thought to simply eliminate the bell shaped device and substitute with the flat top plugs entirely plugged in to the roof, with function of seal
of the previous chimney opening.

Than I see the above version and the doubt arose that they were not simple seals.

Spare bag also contains an electric current generator to substitute one of the tank (gas or kerosene one) to obtain an "electrified" version but, unfortunately, battery pack is absent.

Massimo.

P.S. any opinion on the device on the toilette.